Chapter 55: Sorting Out the Hierarchy

Special Task Force 808 filming location.

They had clearly done mock filming here, but for some reason, Sua felt that the scene was on an entirely different level now.

“This is the real filming. It’s so much more vivid compared to before.”

There were indeed a lot of differences.

It was night now, whereas before it was daytime. The building, which had been left empty, now had lights on, and all the actors had their makeup done to fit their roles…

Thanks to that, Sua felt like she was experiencing some sort of alternate world. It really felt like she had fallen into the world of Special Task Force 808.

“Yeah. It’s like when I went through the script experience.”

Of course, it wasn’t only the actors who were busy.

There were the crew members moving equipment she’d never seen before, the props team organizing items, cameras being installed everywhere, and people with scripts in their hands—those were the directing team.

Sua was once again surprised by the number of people.

“Is this some kind of theme park…?”

People strolling around a theme park would at least have some leisure, but the atmosphere here was filled with desperation. The mock filming that had made her so nervous now seemed like child’s play.

So…

“To perform Kim Yuhan’s role… in this atmosphere, with these people?”

Thump thump.

Sua’s heart began to race.

Though she felt she had matured compared to the past, even considering that, this situation still made her nervous. Today, once again, she had to prove herself and overcome her fears.

“Lee Sua, don’t be nervous. Don’t be nervous.”

Sua soon slapped her own cheek.

No, she stopped midway and just crossed her arms.

She had noticed by accident that when she crossed her arms with a lot of force, her nerves would ease up just a little. The “polar fox” technique.

“The polar fox doesn’t get nervous…”

The self-affirmation was a bonus.

In truth, there would probably be times when even the polar fox would feel nervous, but in Sua’s mind, the polar fox had become almost like a mythical being.

At that moment.

“Sua, have you found any flaws?”

While Sua was quietly looking up at the 808 team’s headquarters, two people approached her—Park Do-hee and the renowned supporting actor Hwang Myeong-pil.

Sua shook her head.

“Not really. I like it just as it is.”

“Ah, that’s a relief. You seemed a bit uncomfortable…”

As she quietly shook her head, Park Do-hee thought to herself.

“What’s up with her makeup? Why does it look so natural? No, actually, she looks quite handsome. If CG is added on top of that…”

In the midst of this, Hwang Myeong-pil spoke up.

“Sua, how’s your condition? I hope today’s filming goes well.”

Hwang Myeong-pil genuinely wanted to become closer to Sua, so he smiled brightly.

It was only natural for him. He lived and died by improvisation, and improvisation only made sense if the other person played along. So, getting closer to Sua beforehand would give him an advantage.

It was then that Sua turned her head to look at Hwang Myeong-pil.

“…Condition?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I asked a stupid question. Even at my age, I still get nervous before real filming. But you, Sua, I can tell just by looking at you. You’re not nervous at all.”

Sua nodded.

“There are no instructions like ‘be nervous’ for my role.”

There was no lie as bold as this one.

However.

After Sua answered, she unknowingly added an exclamation mark to her response.

“…!”

Sua thought to herself. Wasn’t my answer pretty cool just now?

Like the polar fox—something like that. Sua thought it would be nice to name this kind of herbivore attitude “Sua-gao.”

Park Do-hee suddenly let out a sigh.

“…The more composed you are, Sua, the more nervous I get. I really felt sorry about the last filming. I’ll do my best today.”

“Okay.”

While having some conversation, the three of them arrived at the filming location.

“Wow!”

And then came Sua’s admiration.

Police cars were parked side by side, and for Sua, there was no greater spectacle. The mere fact that cars were used in filming was fascinating, but on top of that, they were police cars. It was no wonder she was amazed.

“Sua-ya!”

As if she had been waiting just for Sua, writer Lee Geum-sook approached.

“Sua-ya, you’re here? Should I get you a chair? I brought two extra copies of the script to commemorate the day of the actual filming.”

“Yes, please give them to me.”

“…?”

At that, the writer’s face turned blank for a moment, then she suddenly burst into laughter.

“Sua-ya, I was joking, I was joking!”

“What?”

“Giving two copies of the script on filming day would be ridiculous! But Sua-ya, your ability to joke back is something else! I was taken aback for a second. I even thought maybe you were serious.”

Sua thought. What is this, I wasn’t joking.

“I wasn’t joking.”

“Ah, Sua-ya, you really speak so beautifully. Anyway, just the passion you have for keeping my scripts safe is touching. Anyway, there won’t be any extra scripts today, so good luck with the filming!”

Sua just nodded. After all, the other person was so happy, and that was all that mattered to her.

At that moment, a small woman mixed into the crowd.

With two large hairpins in the front of her hair, the one who still looked like a girl in Sua’s eyes—was the representative of Mystic Entertainment, Kim Yi-seo.

Writer Lee Geum-sook greeted Kim Yi-seo warmly.

“Who’s this? The CEO came personally?”

“Of course. We have three Mystic actors in this production. Plus, Sua is still a rookie, and she needs to be watched over.”

At that, writer Lee Geum-sook laughed.

“Sua-ya is a rookie. Right. Sua-ya is a rookie. Why does that sound so awkward? The word ‘rookie’ just doesn’t suit you.”

“Right. Actually, I’m more of a spectator than someone who’s being taken care of.”

“Look at that, CEO. You’ve just revealed your true intentions.”

After talking for a while, the writer finally returned to Sua’s side. But this time, she wasn’t empty-handed. Holding a script, she began outlining the schedule for the day.

“Sua-ya, it must have been tough getting into character as Kim Yuhan, right? So today, we’re going to film all of Kim Yuhan’s scenes at once.”

“I understood that to mean you’re busy.”

“Right. Your partner, Sun-il, is also busy because of it.”

Scene numbers from S#1 to S#?? continue.

This is from the perspective of the viewers, but the actual filming of the drama doesn’t work like that. It’s filmed in such a way that time and movements are used as efficiently as possible, and then edited.

“…So this is why actors are amazing.”

Sua realized it once again. Actors are truly amazing.

Filming random scenes haphazardly means that the actors must quickly adapt to all kinds of emotions. It was becoming clear just how challenging this task really was.

After explaining, Lee Geum-sook took a close look at Sua’s face, as if inspecting a gem.

“My goodness, the makeup is perfect. You look exactly how I imagined. Now just act well, okay?”

“Yes.”

At that moment, Lee Geum-sook noticed Park Do-hee standing beside Sua, and upon seeing her, remembered that Director Go Tae-min had arrived. But for some reason…

Lee Geum-sook quietly raised the corner of her mouth and crossed her arms.

“I wonder if I’m actually starting to have feelings for Sua-ya?”

Now, just before the main filming began, Kim Sun-il was left alone in the van.

However, the reason he remained in the van wasn’t to focus on getting into character or reviewing the script. He loved the special unit 808, but this time, his reasons were different.

“Oppa, oppa!”

Kim Sun-il was on a video call with someone.

“Oppa, are you going to be on camera starting today? Are you going to be on TV?”

“Yeah. It starts today.”

The person on the screen was a very young girl.

However, it was obvious that she didn’t look well. She was skinny, with a pale complexion, as if she might collapse any moment. The hospital gown she was wearing reflected her condition.

“Oppa, you’re going to be on TV again!”

“Yeah.”

“You need to be on as much as possible! Mom will be able to see us!”

“…Yeah, that’s right.”

This time, Kim Sun-il’s reply was slower.

His little sister still believed that if they could just last a few more nights, their mother would come back. But Kim Sun-il knew. He knew that their mother leaving them behind and coming back was something that would never happen again.

It was still vivid in his memory.

The last time he saw her was after a bath at the public bathhouse. She told him to wait at the entrance. That was the last time he saw her. At first, Kim Sun-il thought he might have done something wrong. Was he not clean enough, causing her not to return?

He washed himself, over and over.

But no matter how many times he washed, nothing changed.

His mother never appeared, and it was only much later that Kim Sun-il realized they had been abandoned by their only parents.

It’s been quite a long time now.

“Oppa, oppa!”

At that moment, Kim Sun-il snapped out of his thoughts at the sound of his younger sister’s voice.

“Yeah, I was listening.”

His younger sister was twisting her body, and Kim Sun-il knew exactly what it meant.

It was the usual behavior she displayed whenever she had something to ask for.

“Why, do you want something?”

“No.”

“Should we move you to a better hospital?”

“No.”

“Then? Don’t you want something?”

“Yeah. I want something.”

Only then did his younger sister nod her head.

Kim Sun-il thought. It wasn’t something she wanted, but it was something she desired. What could it be?

However, unexpectedly, his younger sister asked a simple question.

“Oppa, are you going to do that again today? Like, beat people up?”

“No, I have a different role.”

“Wow! So now you can finally be someone else?”

His younger sister clapped her hands in excitement.

Right, of course, she must have hated it when he only played criminals.

Kim Sun-il had played major villains and earned the nickname “handsome trash” in the public, which even gained him a fan base. But from his younger sister’s perspective, it must have been unpleasant. She probably didn’t like it.

His younger sister had asked if he would play a different role before, and Kim Sun-il had always wanted to grant that wish. That’s why he aimed to be part of the special unit 808.

This was the reason he worked so hard.

In this particular role, he would be a police officer, a good guy.

Kim Sun-il nodded.

“This time, I’m a police officer. A good person. If there’s a bad guy, it’s my job to arrest them and punish them. You don’t have to worry.”

“Huh? Police? A good person?”

But it was then that his younger sister tilted her head.

“No, none of that matters.”

“Hmm?”

“It’s not about what you’re doing.”

By this point, Kim Sun-il was also tilting his head in confusion.

Wasn’t it because she hated him playing villains?

He had never considered other possibilities.

“Then?”

“Oppa, you always look so unhappy. You’re never happy.”

“Unhappy?”

Unhappiness and happiness.

That was something Kim Sun-il had never thought about before.

No, if he had to categorize it, he thought he was happy.

He had received enough recognition for his acting, at least when it came to playing villains, and he had earned much more money than he ever had before.

However, the words of a young child, though seemingly trivial, tend to hit the mark with pure honesty.

Kim Sun-il listened carefully, finding it intriguing.

“Yeah! Oppa always looks unhappy when he’s on TV. It’s always like that. That’s why mom is scared and doesn’t come to find us.”

“It’s probably because the role I’m playing is serious.”

“No! It’s different! Oppa, you should be happy this time! Then mom will be happy and come back quickly!”

“Hmm, well…”

Kim Sun-il couldn’t bear to continue hearing this. He felt a sharp pain in his chest, like a needle pricking him.

“…It’s time. I’ll contact you when the shoot is over.”

That was the end of it. Kim Sun-il quickly ended the call.

Then he thought deeply for a while.

“Unhappy, I look unhappy…?”

If his younger sister simply wanted him to play a different role, Kim Sun-il had already granted that wish. He had transformed from a criminal into Lee Kang-cheol, a principled police officer.

However…

If what his younger sister meant was “character,” that was something Kim Sun-il couldn’t fulfill. A principled, cold-hearted character. His acting was ultimately confined to this spectrum.

Kim Sun-il stared at his reflection in the van’s black window for a moment, then slowly sighed and shook his head.

“Enough with the useless thoughts.”

Right, now he needed to focus on the role he had been given.

After clearing his mind of unnecessary thoughts, Kim Sun-il decided to focus solely on his role as Lee Kang-cheol.

As a result, his gaze became more serious than anyone else’s.

It was only natural. Despite the oddity of the conversation with his younger sister, Special Unit 808 was a work in which Kim Sun-il played the lead role of Lee Kang-cheol. He had to do well.

“I will give my best. Mistakes are not allowed.”

Kim Sun-il repeated this resolve several times.

“Lee Sua is also a lead and does well. But the lead role is mine.”

During the rehearsal, Lee Sua’s acting had been overwhelming, and Kim Sun-il wasn’t unaware of it. However, he was in a position where he could not allow himself to fall behind.

This wasn’t just about pride.

“What I’m shooting today is the early part of Lee Kang-cheol, and in this part, Lee Kang-cheol absolutely cannot accept Kim Yuhan. He despises him.”

This was a very important matter for the overall quality of the work.

In the early part of the story, Lee Kang-cheol harbors feelings close to hatred for Kim Yuhan. It’s natural since Kim Yuhan breaks every principle.

Therefore, he could not afford to be outperformed in acting.

The moment Kim Sun-il faltered in his acting, Lee Kang-cheol would appear to be unable to control Kim Yuhan, giving the impression that he somewhat accepted him. This would essentially break the character’s foundation.

After arriving at the shooting location, Kim Sun-il received greetings directed at him. However, they were not for Kim Sun-il, but for Lee Kang-cheol.

He had already fully embraced his role.

On the other hand, Kim Sun-il was curious about what Lee Sua, who was playing Kim Yuhan, might be doing right now, but there was no need to search for her. Even with so many people around, Lee Sua stood out clearly.

Kim Sun-il approached Lee Sua and thought to himself,
“Her face already looks like Kim Yuhan. The makeup, the expression.”

And then he greeted her first.
“It seems like you’re ready.”
“Same to you.”
“Well, yeah.”

Kim Sun-il’s response was a bit slow.
Watching Lee Sua’s solid expression, he felt as if he was less prepared than the rookie, Lee Sua.

“What an absurd thing. She’s the rookie, yet I feel unprepared.”

Kim Sun-il adjusted his uniform and said,
“Today’s shoot. Let’s give it our all.”
“I’m going to do it as usual.”
“As usual?”
“Practice like it’s real, and real like it’s practice. That’s how it is.”

A brief exchange with Lee Sua. But Kim Sun-il felt it.
Just as he was wearing Lee Kang-cheol’s role to be here, Lee Sua was doing the same. She was sitting here as Kim Yuhan.

“You… really can’t figure you out.”
“That’s my favorite thing to hear.”

Kim Sun-il couldn’t even guess what Lee Sua’s true nature was. But there was one thing that was clear to him despite everything.
Lee Sua was an actress who made him want to know more.

Unlike others who seemed to hide something and became avoidable, Lee Sua didn’t seem to be hiding anything, giving off a subtle feeling that she was just being herself.

Suddenly, Seo Yeon-ju’s words came to mind.
–“When I acted with Sua, it definitely felt different, right?”

It was a remark made after the “Sword” shoot, where Seo Yeon-ju had said she felt unexpectedly awakened after acting with Lee Sua.
Kim Sun-il was curious. Could he feel the same way?

The sense of responsibility to do well as the lead, the unexpected task given by his younger sister, the anticipation of acting with Lee Sua…
Kim Sun-il’s mind became very cluttered at that moment.

“Kim Yuhan, Lee Kang-cheol, standby now!”

Suddenly, a staff member shouted loudly.

“We are starting the main shoot now! Let’s go!”

Kim Sun-il and Lee Sua started walking toward their positions. This time, Lee Sua didn’t say anything, and Kim Sun-il broke the silence.
“Let’s clash. Let’s give it our all.”
Lee Sua nodded as usual.

Honestly, acting was just about doing your best, and as Kim Sun-il looked up at her, one thought came to mind.
“She really is tall every time I see her…”

The main shoot began.
Everyone took their positions according to their roles. Finally, the efforts of all the people involved bore fruit. An environment where the actors could focus solely on their performances was now complete.

Meanwhile, PD Choi Heewon was absorbed in the monitor.

It looked as if something was mesmerizing her, and then her hand moved. The faces of Kim Yuhan and Lee Kang-cheol, which had been visible down to their chests, were now zoomed in to show only their faces.

Now, their faces filled the entire screen.
…This two-shot, visually, is perfect.

Even just looking at their faces, they were completely opposite.
Lee Kang-cheol, with his neat expression and black hair swept back, contrasted sharply with Kim Yuhan, who had a languid expression and white hair covering his bangs. The difference in their appearances was stark. From this point on, only their acting skills would matter.

Meanwhile,
Lee Sua climbed into the passenger seat of the police car and took a deep breath.
‘The Arctic fox doesn’t tremble. The Arctic fox doesn’t tremble.’

She was equipped with some tracking devices for CGI processing, something that hadn’t been part of the mock shoot. One particular element was now the source of anxiety for Lee Sua.

…No, actually, maybe even the Arctic fox might tremble once in a while.

The real shoot, the main filming.
The tension in the air was palpable.

The crowd, which had reminded her of an amusement park, would now be watching Lee Sua’s performance. The feeling of suffocation was overwhelming.

Lee Sua thought to herself, “Will there come a day when I get used to this? A day when I won’t even blink in front of a massive crowd?”
‘But I won’t give up. This is my last chance in life.’

In the end, Lee Sua steeled herself. Since acting was the only possibility in her life, she was determined to find a way through, just as she always had since she started acting.

It was then.
A staff member sitting in the passenger seat handcuffed Lee Sua’s right hand. Along with securing it to the upper handrest,
Yes. From this moment, it was truly beginning.

Lee Sua, with her free left hand, reviewed the script.

S #33
The two succeeded in capturing the criminal.
But the atmosphere is cold as ice.
Kim Yuhan had disregarded all principles to make the arrest.
Lee Kang-cheol, seething with anger, grabbed the steering wheel.
He returns feeling as though he has also arrested Kim Yuhan.

Kim Yuhan and Lee Kang-cheol, assigned to the 808 department, were going on their first criminal arrest mission.
Though they succeeded in capturing the criminal, they painfully realized that they were complete opposites.

In the midst of it all, there’s no compromise. A battle of egos is at its peak.

Lee Sua began to immerse herself in this scene.
Ssssss
‘I am Kim Yuhan. I am Kim Yuhan. I am…?’

Concentrating her mind, it wasn’t difficult. Lee Sua had experienced this script over a hundred times, and her familiarity with it had greatly improved.

‘…Kim Yuhan.’

A moment later,
For some reason, she felt like humming a tune. The feeling of having her right hand bound to the passenger seat handrest with handcuffs, losing her freedom, and the sense of a tense standoff that made it hard to breathe…

“…Heh.”
The elements that were unpleasant to Kim Yuhan seemed to just be sources of enjoyment for her.

Lee Sua, with everything around her stripped away,
…To an ordinary person, these things might have felt more unsettling,
but to her, they simply felt cheerful.

Clunk!
Just then, Kim Sun-il got into the driver’s seat.

“Alright, are you two ready? We’re starting!”
It was at the same time that PD Choi Heewon’s voice came through the radio.

Action!
Lee Kang-cheol slammed the accelerator, as if to express his heightened emotions.

With Lee Kang-cheol gripping the steering wheel and Kim Yuhan handcuffed to the passenger seat,
the two were on their way back to the 808 Headquarters when Lee Kang-cheol spoke.

“Crazy dog, crazy dog… There was a reason.”
Lee Kang-cheol realized that his partner was far from normal, and his mind was in chaos.

“Make up some excuse. Why did you do that?”
Lee Kang-cheol’s voice was strained, as if he were holding back his emotions.

However, Kim Yuhan just tilted his head.
It wasn’t that he was ignoring Lee Kang-cheol’s words; he just seemed confused, as though he couldn’t understand.

His eyes rolled around, as if lost in his own thoughts, and the movement was captured on camera, vividly and almost mischievously.

“Can’t you hear me? Say something!”

Finally, Kim Yuhan parted his lips.

“We caught the criminal, didn’t we? What’s the problem?”

“…Are you really asking me that?”
Lee Kang-cheol, unable to hold back his anger, shot a glare at Kim Yuhan.

Kim Yuhan, however, was merely looking out the window at the scenery.
It was something Lee Kang-cheol couldn’t understand.

From his light attitude to stealing Lee Kang-cheol’s car keys and acting on his own,
and even knocking the criminal down and arresting them in a way that completely broke the rules…

“You should never break the rules. No matter what happens.”

“Ah, I get it.”
Suddenly, Kim Yuhan responded as if he had just realized something.

“Lee Kang-cheol, you always just warn with words, right? That’s not good. You’re like a dog. The detective who barks loudly always misses the criminal.”

“Stop with the wordplay. I’m not in the mood for it.”

“I’m not joking right now.”

Kim Yuhan, for the first time, wiped the smile off his face and turned his head.

Kim Sun-il, glancing at his expression, felt a chill.
The words Lee Sua had said didn’t seem like acting at all.

“…Let’s finish the conversation after we get to headquarters.”

“No need for that. We can settle this right now.”

Kim Sun-il thought.
Settle what?

At the same time, Lee Sua’s left hand moved smoothly, almost like flowing water, and before Kim Sun-il could react, her hand was already resting on the steering wheel he was holding.

And then came the answer to his question.

“We haven’t settled the hierarchy between us yet.”

In the next moment,
Lee Sua’s arm tensed, and Kim Sun-il felt her attempt to forcefully twist the steering wheel.

Clunk!
The car swerved violently. It was inevitable.

Kim Sun-il used all his strength to desperately regain control of the car, which had almost veered completely off course.

“…!”

At the same time, Kim Sun-il quickly turned his head in surprise.

“What are you…!”

However, his words were left unfinished.
Looking at his opponent’s face, it became clear.

Lee Sua, no, Kim Yuhan,
was genuinely trying to flip the car.